CITY OF LAUREL EMPLOYEES COMPLETE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
Posted on: June 29, 2012
City of Laurel employees, Kristal Jones and Michelle Van Sickle, each successfully completed their certification requirements to graduate from the Municipal Clerks and Deputy Clerks Program sponsored by the Center for Governmental Training & Technology (CGT) in the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Mississippi Municipal Clerks and Collectors Association and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. Jones and Van Sickle received their recognition last week at the Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference in Biloxi, MS. Successful completion of the 3-year educational program is based upon course attendance and obtaining a passing grade on the annual examinations. The three-year certification program for municipal clerks and collectors through CGT is nationally recognized.
“I’ve learned a lot about government municipal laws and municipalities and basically, how cities are run,” said Jones, who has been with the City of Laurel for seven years is currently the Assistant Accountant/Deputy City Clerk. Originally from Heidelberg, MS, Jones is a Rust College graduate with a degree in Business Administration. Van Sickle is the Accountant and was also sworn in as a Deputy City Clerk and has been employed by the City for the past four years.
The clerk of a municipality has extensive duties which include serving as the auditor, bookkeeper, custodian of the official seal, clerk of the police court, and registrar of voters, among other duties.
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| Pictured: Michelle Van Sickle and Kristal Jones holding their certificates. |
The ultimate beneficiaries of these programs are the citizens of the state who receive improved services from their state and local governments. Laurel’s City Clerk, Mary Ann Hess, expressed her pride in all the clerks and deputy clerks that work for the City of Laurel. In 2013, all of Laurel’s clerks and deputy clerks will be fully certified.